Religion briefs

Clinton Parkway Assembly of God

Jeffrey Miller, host of the syndicated radio program "Messianic Minutes," will minister on "The Jewishness of Christianity" at the 7 p.m. service Wednesday at Clinton Parkway Assembly of God, 3200 Clinton Parkway.

Miller's ministry has been featured on national radio and television several times, including on "The 700 Club." He lives in Reading, Pa.

The service is open to the community.

The Refuge Youth Group Rally is also Wednesday. Pre-rally prayer starts at 6 p.m. The Rally begins at 7 p.m.

Clinton Parkway's second annual Backpack Outreach will start at 8 a.m. Aug. 9. Backpacks and school supplies will be provided free, on a first-come-first-served basis, to children who need them and are accompanied by at least one parent.

First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Drive, will have only one worship service Sunday, at 10 a.m., led by the Rev. Steve Kawiecki. Communion will be served. There will not be 9:30 a.m. Sunday school classes.

First United Methodist Church

All new sessions for children begin this week at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt.

Grades two and three will start a five-week study of "Hey God, Let's Talk!" led by Tom and Lee Hedrick. The sessions focus on how to pray.

Grades four and five begin "Christmas in August" coordinated by Nancy Hardman. Five sessions will be spent creating Christmas cards to be sold in November, with proceeds going to "Toys for Tots."

Lawrence Chapel, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Family History Center in the Lawrence Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3615 W. 10th St., has been upgraded for use by genealogists.

Four of the center's computers now have Internet access, and researchers can find recent records. Because of the Internet interface, there are links to about 30 other genealogical-related Web sites.

Also available are all the resources offered by the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, as well as CDs containing Ellis Island immigration records and the Freedman Bank records, which are valuable in researching African-American family history.

For more information, call the Lawrence Chapel's library director, Jan Grady at 832-0073.

Lawrence Wesleyan Church

Lawrence Wesleyan Church, 3705 Clinton Parkway, will offer its vacation Bible school -- "SonHarvest County Fair" -- from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday for children from 3 through fifth grade.

For more information about the school, call the church at 841-5446.

Living Water Church

The congregation of Living Water Church will meet at 11 a.m. Sunday at Lyon Park, Seventh and Lincoln streets, for "Church in the Park."

After the service, there will be a potluck lunch at 12:30 p.m. Participants are asked to bring lawn chairs and a dish to share.

Hugh Wentz, the church's co-founder, will deliver the message.

The service is open to the community. For more information, call Hugh or Mary Ellen Wentz at 841-2647.

Redeemer Lutheran Church

The Rev. J.W. Watson, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2700 Lawrence Ave., has been named treasurer of the Texas-based Center for the Study of Lutheran Orthodoxy, which is involved in the research, translation and publication of Lutheran classics, as well as being host to educational conferences. Watson will attend his first board meeting in September in Carrolton, Mo.

St. John's UCC

The congregation of St. John's United Church of Christ, Baldwin, will celebrate its 135th anniversary Aug. 17.

Guest speakers will be the Rev. Richard Brueseke of Owensville, Mo., and the Rev. Ruth Hotle of Lexington, Mo.

During the 10:30 a.m. services, Brueseke will present a portrayal of the Rev. Christian Haas, the church's first minister. In the afternoon, Hotle, the great-great-granddaughter of Haas, will give a presentation on the church's future.

The celebration will begin at 9:30 a.m. with coffee, pastry and dedications. A noon luncheon will be provided by church members.

A drawing for a quilt and wooden trunk, made by church members, will be in the afternoon.

For more information, call the Rev. Fred Craig at 785-594-3478.

Trinity Episcopal Church

Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vt., will begin its six-week fund-raising campaign for the next Lawrence Habitat for Humanity home at the church's adult forum at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Ken Ratzlaff, a board member for Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, will discuss the project, "Building on Faith 2003," which will be built by participating Lawrence churches.

West Side Presbyterian Church

A curriculum workshop for adults will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a session for children's Sunday school leaders at 7 p.m., at West Side Presbyterian Church, 1024 Kasold Drive. This will be a combined effort for members of First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, and West Side Presbyterian Church. It will be led by Melanie Crawford of Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. The theme is "We Believe."